Scottish Executive

Care of Elderly People

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken any national workforce planning in relation to the future staff resources required to deliver free personal care.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Executive accepted the advice of the Care Development Group who took workforce planning into account in making their recommendations. Resources have been provided to local authorities within their free personal care allocation to build up infrastructure, increased assessments and increased administration.

Civil Servants

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister decides how many civil servants there should be in the Scottish Executive, associated departments, executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

Peter Peacock: Ministers exercise overall control of administration expenditure by the Scottish Executive, associated departments, executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies through the budget approval process. In practice, within these approved budgets managers determine their staffing requirements.

Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions police have used their powers under section 61(1) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in each year since the section came into force.

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many seizures of property there have been under section 62 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in each year since the section came into force.

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions police have used their powers under section 63(2) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in each year since the section came into force.

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many seizures of property there have been under section 64 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in each year since the section came into force.

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions police have used their powers under section 65(1) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in each year since the section came into force.

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions police have used their powers under section 69(1) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in each year since the section came into force.

Mr Jim Wallace: This information is not held centrally. However, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland are aware of no charges having so far been brought under this legislation.

Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports of offences to the procurator fiscal, (b) prosecutions and (c) convictions there have been under section 61(4) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in each year since the section came into force.

Mrs Elish Angiolini QC: Since 2001 there has been one case involving seven accused, reported to a Procurator Fiscal for a contravention of section 61(4) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. No proceedings were taken in this case. Information is not available for earlier years.

Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports of offences to the procurator fiscal, (b) prosecutions and (c) convictions there have been under section 63(6) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in each year since the section came into force.

Mrs Elish Angiolini QC: No cases under this section have been reported to Procurators Fiscal since this section came into force.

Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports of offences to the procurator fiscal, (b) prosecutions and (c) convictions there have been under section 65(4) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in each year since the section came into force.

Mrs Elish Angiolini QC: No cases under this section have been reported to Procurators Fiscal since this section came into force.

Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports of offences to the procurator fiscal, (b) prosecutions and (c) convictions there have been under section 68(1) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in each year since the section came into force.

Mrs Elish Angiolini QC: Since 2001 there have been two cases reported to a Procurator Fiscal for contraventions under Section 68(1) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. One case involves six accused and the other five accused. Trials have been fixed for August and September respectively. Information is not available for earlier years.

Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports of offences to the procurator fiscal, (b) prosecutions and (c) convictions there have been under section 69(3) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in each year since the section came into force.

Mrs Elish Angiolini QC: No cases under this section have been reported to Procurators Fiscal since this section came into force.

Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service are currently absent from work on a long-term basis.

Colin Boyd QC: As at 19 June 2002 out of a total staffing figure of 1,256, 33 employees are absent from work on a long-term basis, i.e. an absence of four weeks or more.

Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service are currently absent from work having been medically diagnosed as suffering from (a) stress, (b) work-related stress or (c) a stress-related condition.

Colin Boyd QC: As at 19 June 2002 out of a total of 1,256, there are no members of staff absent having been medically diagnosed as suffering from stress. Three members of staff are absent from work having been medically diagnosed as suffering from a stress related condition. The medical diagnosis does not disclose whether or not these three illnesses are work related.

Education

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is making any progress towards simplifying the examination and pupil assessment systems.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is working with key stakeholders in education, business and the wider community to develop a simple, effective and easily understood examination and pupil assessment system for children of all ages.

  In relation to younger children aged three to 14, the Scottish Executive has established an Assessment Action Group to develop a single, clearly understood national system of assessment, record-keeping and reporting. The initiative aims to provide better feedback for pupils leading to improved achievement; a simplified system and support for teachers thereby reducing their workload and clearer information for parents.

  For examination and assessment post-14, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has reviewed assessment arrangements for all new National Qualifications courses. Significant changes have been made to reduce unnecessary demands on teachers and students. The National Qualifications Task and Steering Groups and Scottish Executive ministers have endorsed these changes. This process will continue and the SQA has identified 18 subjects for a more fundamental review of assessment arrangements. Furthermore, the National Qualifications Task and Steering Groups are overseeing the development of clear guidance and support materials to help teachers reduce and simplify the work associated with assessment.

Education

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list by title each document that it has sent to (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each of the last three years.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it cost to produce and circulate documents that it sent to (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each of the last three years.

Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-24233 on 3 April 2002 and S1W-24781 on 29 April 2002.

Education

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list each guideline document that it has issued to (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each of the last three years.

Nicol Stephen: Written material issued by the Scottish Executive can take a number of forms and is issued from a number of areas within the Executive. Central logging of this written material is not undertaken and a comprehensive answer cannot, therefore, be provided to question S1W-24233 on 3 April 2002. However, internal monitoring indicates that relatively little of the material issued by the Scottish Executive is either sent directly to schools or is intended for distribution to them.

Education

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 organised the recruitment of modern studies teachers as markers at standard grade.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Qualifications Authority recruited all required markers for modern studies standard grade, as well as for all subjects and levels, in both 2001 and 2002.

Education

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many modern studies markers were recruited in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 and how many of them were (i) qualified to teach the subject, (ii) teachers of modern studies with more than three years’ classroom experience, (iii) retired teachers and (iv) retired teachers not qualified in modern studies.

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who was in charge of the modern studies markers' meetings in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 and how many markers attended these meetings.

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any records kept of contentious questions and of the advice given to modern studies markers on questions which gave them most concern and, if so, which credit questions presented the 2001 markers with the most difficulty.

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which individuals set the (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 credit papers in modern studies.

Nicol Stephen: This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. I will ask the chairman to write to you with the details requested.

Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for distributing the environmental allocation being made available to local authorities under the end-year flexibility arrangements announced in the ministerial statement by the Minister for Finance and Public Services on 26 June 2002.

Mr Andy Kerr: Provisional allocations for the additional £95 million of end-year flexibility (EYF) were distributed on the basis of each council’s general Grant Aided Expenditure allowances for the current year. It will be up to each local authority how it allocates its allowance in support of the two policy themes of "children and young people" and "our local environment".

  Additionally, I announced on 26 June EYF of £76 million for the Environment and Rural Development portfolio, which includes £30.2 million for environment programmes. Full details of how this funding will be allocated are provided in the answer to S1W-27441 on 10 July 2002.

Genealogy

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in boosting genealogical and family history tourism.

Mike Watson: On 24 January I launched the genealogy tourism website www.ancestralscotland.com and took the opportunity during the Tartan Week celebrations to promote the website to potential visitors from America. This website assists users from around the world to research their ancestry and also encourage them to visit those parts of Scotland where their ancestors lived. VisitScotland will continue to develop and market genealogy tourism and are currently researching the product/service expectations of actual and prospective genealogy tourists.

Genealogy

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is working with local family history societies to boost family tourism.

Mike Watson: This is an operational matter for VisitScotland and the Area Tourist Boards.

Genealogy

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to VisitScotland to discuss adding links to local family history societies’ websites to the ancestralscotland.com website.

Mike Watson: I understand that family history society links were added to ancestralscotland.com as part of its most recent update.

Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports have been sent to the procurator fiscal and (b) convictions obtained under sections 68(1), 68(2), 68(3), 68(5), 69(1), 69(2) and 70(1) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 in each of the last five years in each sheriff court district.

Mrs Elish Angiolini QC: The data is only available for the previous three years. Records indicate that no reports were sent to the Procurator Fiscal in respect of section 70(1) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976.

  The number of cases containing a charge under sections 68 and 69 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 reported to the Procurator Fiscal in the previous three financial years are 1999-2000: 249; 2000-01: 243; 2001-02: 298.

  A break down of cases reported in each sheriff court district is shown in Table 1.

  A break down of convictions for charges under Section 67(1), 68(1), 68(2) and 68(3) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 in the previous three financial years in each sheriff court district is shown in Tables 2 to 4.

  Table 1 - Cases Reported to PFs containing a charge under Sections 68 and 69

  


PF 
  

FY 1999-2000 
  

FY 2000-01 
  

FY 2001-02 
  

Grand Total 
  



Aberdeen 
  

6 
  

10 
  

9 
  

25 
  



Airdrie 
  

4 
  

2 
  

4 
  

10 
  



Alloa 
  

3 
  

4 
  

8 
  

15 
  



Arbroath 
  

1 
  

8 
  

5 
  

14 
  



Ayr 
  

4 
  

10 
  

12 
  

26 
  



Banff 
  

7 
  

4 
  

2 
  

13 
  



Campbeltown 
  

9 
  

3 
  

5 
  

17 
  



Cupar 
  




2 
  

2 
  

4 
  



Dingwall 
  

2 
  

4 
  

6 
  

12 
  



Dornoch 
  

1 
  

2 
  

1 
  

4 
  



Dumbarton 
  

6 
  

6 
  

9 
  

21 
  



Dumfries 
  

2 
  

3 
  

4 
  

9 
  



Dundee 
  

8 
  

13 
  

18 
  

39 
  



Dunfermline 
  

8 
  

7 
  

9 
  

24 
  



Dunoon 
  

5 
  

5 
  

3 
  

13 
  



Duns 
  

1 
  

2 
  

2 
  

5 
  



Edinburgh 
  

10 
  

10 
  

16 
  

36 
  



Elgin 
  

4 
  

5 
  

6 
  

15 
  



Falkirk 
  

7 
  

4 
  

21 
  

32 
  



Forfar 
  

4 
  

2 
  

3 
  

9 
  



Fort William 
  

10 
  

3 
  

2 
  

15 
  



Glasgow 
  

41 
  

38 
  

38 
  

117 
  



Greenock 
  

2 
  

7 
  

6 
  

15 
  



Haddington 
  

4 
  

10 
  

7 
  

21 
  



Hamilton 
  

11 
  

4 
  

2 
  

17 
  



Inverness 
  

7 
  

8 
  

15 
  

30 
  



Jedburgh 
  

2 
  

6 
  

3 
  

11 
  



Kilmarnock 
  

11 
  

3 
  

9 
  

23 
  



Kirkcaldy 
  

1 
  

1 
  

1 
  

3 
  



Kirkcudbright 
  

2 
  

3 
  

2 
  

7 
  



Kirkwall 
  

5 
  

4 
  

4 
  

13 
  



Lanark 
  

4 
  

3 
  

6 
  

13 
  



Lerwick 
  

3 
  

3 
  

1 
  

7 
  



Linlithgow 
  

4 
  

5 
  

12 
  

21 
  



Lochmaddy 
  

1 
  




1 
  

2 
  



Oban 
  

6 
  

5 
  

3 
  

14 
  



Paisley 
  

3 
  

13 
  

9 
  

25 
  



Peebles 
  

2 
  

1 
  

1 
  

4 
  



Perth 
  

4 
  

2 
  

4 
  

10 
  



Peterhead 
  

3 
  







3 
  



Portree 
  

3 
  

5 
  

1 
  

9 
  



Rothesay 
  







2 
  

2 
  



Selkirk 
  

1 
  

1 
  

5 
  

7 
  



Stirling 
  

6 
  

2 
  

8 
  

16 
  



Stonehaven 
  

2 
  

1 
  

4 
  

7 
  



Stornoway 
  

3 
  

1 
  

1 
  

5 
  



Stranraer 
  

7 
  

2 
  

3 
  

12 
  



Tain 
  

3 
  

5 
  

2 
  

10 
  



Wick 
  

6 
  

1 
  

1 
  

8 
  



Grand Total 
  

249 
  

243 
  

298 
  

790 
  



  Table 2 - Convictions for charges reported during FY1999-2000

  


PF 
  

67&68(1)&(7) 
  

68(1) 
  

68(2) 
  

68(3) 
  

Grand Total 
  



Aberdeen 
  
 
 
 

2 
  

2 
  



Airdrie 
  
 
 
 

1 
  

1 
  



Alloa 
  

2 
  
 
 

1 
  

3 
  



Ayr 
  
 
 
 

1 
  

1 
  



Banff 
  

2 
  
 
 
 

2 
  



Dingwall 
  
 
 
 

1 
  

1 
  



Dumbarton 
  
 
 

2 
  
 

2 
  



Dumfries 
  
 
 
 

1 
  

1 
  



Dundee 
  
 
 
 

3 
  

3 
  



Dunfermline 
  

2 
  
 
 

1 
  

3 
  



Dunoon 
  
 
 
 

1 
  

1 
  



Duns 
  
 
 
 

1 
  

1 
  



Edinburgh 
  

3 
  
 
 

1 
  

4 
  



Elgin 
  
 
 

3 
  
 

3 
  



Falkirk 
  

3 
  

1 
  
 
 

4 
  



Fort William 
  
 
 
 

3 
  

3 
  



Glasgow 
  

2 
  

3 
  
 

3 
  

8 
  



Greenock 
  
 
 
 

1 
  

1 
  



Hamilton 
  

2 
  
 
 

2 
  

4 
  



Inverness 
  
 
 
 

1 
  

1 
  



Kilmarnock 
  

7 
  

1 
  
 

2 
  

10 
  



Kirkwall 
  
 
 

2 
  
 

2 
  



Lanark 
  

1 
  

1 
  
 

1 
  

3 
  



Lerwick 
  
 

1 
  
 
 

1 
  



Linlithgow 
  
 
 
 

3 
  

3 
  



Oban 
  
 

1 
  

1 
  

2 
  

4 
  



Perth 
  
 
 
 

1 
  

1 
  



Portree 
  
 
 
 

1 
  

1 
  



Stirling 
  
 

1 
  
 

1 
  

2 
  



Stornoway 
  
 
 
 

1 
  

1 
  



Tain 
  
 
 
 

1 
  

1 
  



Wick 
  
 
 
 

1 
  

1 
  



Grand Total 
  

24 
  

9 
  

8 
  

38 
  

79 
  



  Table 3 - Convictions for charges reported during FY2000-01

  


PF 
  

67&68(1)&(7) 
  

68(1) 
  

68(2) 
  

68(3) 
  

Grand Total 
  



Aberdeen 
  










1 
  

1 
  



Alloa 
  










2 
  

2 
  



Arbroath 
  




1 
  

1 
  

3 
  

5 
  



Ayr 
  

1 
  

1 
  

1 
  

6 
  

9 
  



Banff 
  

2 
  

1 
  







3 
  



Campbeltown 
  










1 
  

1 
  



Dingwall 
  










1 
  

1 
  



Dumfries 
  










1 
  

1 
  



Dundee 
  

1 
  







3 
  

4 
  



Dunfermline 
  

1 
  

1 
  







2 
  



Dunoon 
  










2 
  

2 
  



Duns 
  










2 
  

2 
  



Edinburgh 
  

3 
  







1 
  

4 
  



Elgin 
  

1 
  

1 
  




4 
  

6 
  



Forfar 
  










2 
  

2 
  



Fort William 
  










2 
  

2 
  



Glasgow 
  




3 
  




2 
  

5 
  



Greenock 
  




2 
  




2 
  

4 
  



Haddington 
  

1 
  

1 
  




1 
  

3 
  



Hamilton 
  










3 
  

3 
  



Inverness 
  










4 
  

4 
  



Jedburgh 
  




2 
  







2 
  



Kilmarnock 
  

1 
  

1 
  







2 
  



Kirkcudbright 
  







1 
  

2 
  

3 
  



Kirkwall 
  










2 
  

2 
  



Lanark 
  










3 
  

3 
  



Lerwick 
  










1 
  

1 
  



Oban 
  










3 
  

3 
  



Portree 
  










1 
  

1 
  



Selkirk 
  










1 
  

1 
  



Stirling 
  










2 
  

2 
  



Stonehaven 
  




1 
  




1 
  

2 
  



Stranraer 
  










1 
  

1 
  



Tain 
  

1 
  










1 
  



Grand Total 
  

12 
  

15 
  

3 
  

60 
  

90 
  



  Table 4 - Convictions for charges reported during FY 2001/02

  


PF 
  

67&68 (1)&(7) 
  

68(1) 
  

68(2) 
  

68(3) 
  

Grand Total 
  



Aberdeen 
  

1 
  

2 
  







3 
  



Airdrie 
  










1 
  

1 
  



Arbroath 
  










4 
  

4 
  



Ayr 
  

3 
  

1 
  




3 
  

7 
  



Campbeltown 
  










1 
  

1 
  



Dingwall 
  










2 
  

2 
  



Dumbarton 
  










1 
  

1 
  



Dumfries 
  










1 
  

1 
  



Dundee 
  




1 
  




9 
  

10 
  



Dunoon 
  







1 
  




1 
  



Duns 
  

6 
  

3 
  




1 
  

10 
  



Edinburgh 
  




1 
  

1 
  




2 
  



Elgin 
  










1 
  

1 
  



Falkirk 
  

3 
  







2 
  

5 
  



Forfar 
  










1 
  

1 
  



Fort William 
  










1 
  

1 
  



Glasgow 
  

1 
  

3 
  

1 
  

5 
  

10 
  



Greenock 
  

1 
  







1 
  

2 
  



Haddington 
  

2 
  

2 
  







4 
  



Inverness 
  

2 
  







1 
  

3 
  



Jedburgh 
  










2 
  

2 
  



Kilmarnock 
  

2 
  

1 
  




1 
  

4 
  



Kirkwall 
  










2 
  

2 
  



Lanark 
  

1 
  

3 
  







4 
  



Lerwick 
  




1 
  







1 
  



Linlithgow 
  










1 
  

1 
  



Paisley 
  




1 
  







1 
  



Selkirk 
  










1 
  

1 
  



Stirling 
  

1 
  










1 
  



Stonehaven 
  










3 
  

3 
  



Stranraer 
  










1 
  

1 
  



Tain 
  







1 
  




1 
  



Wick 
  










1 
  

1 
  



Grand Total 
  

23 
  

19 
  

4 
  

47 
  

93

Local Government

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list each policy initiative it has implemented since May 1999 which has had a direct implication or bearing on the workload of local government; whether funding was provided to local authorities for each such initiative and, if so, how much funding was provided in each case.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is provided in the following table:

  The table lists specific Scottish Executive initiatives since 1999-2000 and associated financial support, including addition funding for existing initiatives, included within general revenue grant (Aggregate External Finance), non-housing capital allocations, Housing Revenue Account (HRA) allocations and specific programme grants.

  Scottish Executive support for Local Government

  





1999-2000
(£m) 
  

2000-01
(£m) 
  

2001-02
(£m) 
  

2002-03
(£m) 
  

2003-04
(£m) 
  



Aggregate External Finance Including allocations for: Education 
  and Young People 
  

5,513.1 
  

5,630.4 
  

6,078.8 
  

6,836.2 
  

7,131.0 
  



Sure Start 
  

9.0 
  

14.0 
  

19.0 
  

19.0 
  

19.0 
  



Childcare Strategy 
  

5.8 
  

13.8 
  

13.8 
  

16.8 
  

16.8 
  



Children's Ser. Development Fund/Youth Crime 
  

9.2 
  

12.5 
  

20.0 
  

20.0 
  

25.0 
  



Alternatives to Exclusion 
  

5.0 
  

8.0 
  

11.0 
  

11.0 
  

TBC 
  



Study Support 
  

7.0 
  

10.0 
  

10.0 
  

10.0 
  

TBC 
  



Early Intervention 
  

13.0 
  

13.0 
  

13.0 
  

13.0 
  

TBC 
  



Supporting Parents 
  

5.0 
  

5.0 
  

5.0 
  

5.0 
  

TBC 
  



Classroom Assistants 
  

9.5 
  

19.5 
  

36.0 
  

36.0 
  

TBC 
  



Reducing Class Sizes 
  

12.5 
  

15.6 
  

20.1 
  

15.0 
  

TBC 
  



Support for Teachers 
  

10.1 
  

10.1 
  

10.0 
  

9.6 
  

TBC 
  



Higher Still 
  

5.0 
  

5.0 
  

5.0 
  

5.0 
  

TBC 
  



National Grid for Learning 
  

22.6 
  

23.4 
  

28.6 
  

20.0 
  

TBC 
  



Inclusion 
  

- 
  

6.0 
  

13.0 
  

17.5 
  

TBC 
  



New Community Schools 
  

6.0 
  

8.0 
  

12.0 
  

20.5 
  

TBC 
  



School Action Plans 
  

5.0 
  

5.0 
  

5.0 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Specialist Provision 
  

4.8 
  

4.8 
  

5.0 
  

5.0 
  

TBC 
  



In-Service SEN Training for Teachers 
  




4.4 
  

4.4 
  

8.4 
  

8.4 
  



Modernising the Teaching Profession/McCrone 
  

- 
  

- 
  

174.0 
  

276.0 
  

405.0 
  



Additional Out of School Care 
  

- 
  

- 
  

2.0 
  

3.0 
  

3.0 
  



Enhanced Adult Literacy and Numeracy Services 
  

- 
  

- 
  

2.7 
  

5.4 
  

10.4 
  



Speech and Language Therapists 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

2.5 
  

2.5 
  



Pre-School Education Grant 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

137.0 
  

137.0 
  



Education Disability Strategies and Pupil Records 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

9.0 
  



Community Care 
  


















Mental Illness Specific Grants 
  

18.0 
  

18.0 
  

19.0 
  

19.0 
  

19.0 
  



Carers Services and Respite Care 
  

5.0 
  

10.0 
  

15.0 
  

16.0 
  

21.0 
  



Community Care Action Plan 
  

5.0 
  

7.5 
  

10.0 
  

10.0 
  

10.0 
  



Delayed Discharge 
  

- 
  

10.0 
  

10.0 
  

10.0 
  

10.0 
  



Learning Disability Review 
  

- 
  

- 
  

8.0 
  

12.0 
  

16.0 
  



Improved Care for Older People/Joint Future 
  

- 
  

- 
  

25.0 
  

30.0 
  

49.0 
  



Drugs Rehabilitation 
  

- 
  

- 
  

6.8 
  

7.3 
  

7.3 
  



National Review of Care Home Fees 
  

- 
  

- 
  

17.5 
  

35.2 
  

TBC 
  



Adults with Incapacity 
  

- 
  

- 
  

1.0 
  

1.0 
  

1.0 
  



Free Personal and Nursing Care 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

107.0 
  

143.0 
  



Preserved Rights and Residential Allowance 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

73.1 
  

81.0 
  



Housing 
  


















Supporting People Preparation 
  

- 
  

- 
  

2.0 
  

5.0 
  

8.0 
  



Rough Sleepers Initiative 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

8.8 
  

8.8 
  



Environment 
  


















New Contaminated Land Regime 
  

1.7 
  

2.0 
  

2.0 
  

2.0 
  

2.0 
  



Access to Countryside 
  

- 
  

- 
  

2.5 
  

4.7 
  

6.5 
  



Improved Waste Disposal 
  

- 
  

- 
  

3.0 
  

5.5 
  

7.0 
  



Transport 
  


















Enhanced Concessionary Fares 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

30.0 
  

45.0 
  



Other 
  






Better Neighbourhoods Services Fund 
  

- 
  

- 
  

20.0 
  

30.0 
  

40.0 
  



Additional Debt Advice 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

3.0 
  

3.0 
  



Support for Children and Local Environment 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

95.0 
  

- 
  



Non-Housing Capital Allocations 
  

309.7 
  

321.2 
  

439.9 
  

451.7 
  

509.4 
  



Including allocations for: 
  


















Flood Prevention/Coastal Protection 
  

4.0 
  

4.0 
  

8.5 
  

9.0 
  

10.0 
  



Public Transport Fund 
  

30.0 
  

30.0 
  

40.0 
  

50.0 
  

60.0 
  



Air Quality Management 
  

0.5 
  

0.3 
  

0.3 
  

0.3 
  

0.3 
  



Piers and Harbours 
  

2.0 
  

2.0 
  

2.0 
  

2.0 
  

2.0 
  



Land Decontamination 
  

- 
  

1.7 
  

0.5 
  

1.5 
  

2.0 
  



Investment in Roads and Bridges 
  

- 
  

- 
  

20.0 
  

15.0 
  

35.0 
  



Housing Revenue Account 
  

154.6 
  

154.6 
  

174.6 
  

148.5 
  

TBC 
  



Programme Grants 
  






Social Inclusion Partnerships 
  

49.0 
  

54.1 
  

55.9 
  

58.1 
  

60.1 
  



CCTV 
  

1.5 
  

1.9 
  

1.6 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Community Ownership/NHP 
  

35.0 
  

52.0 
  

65.0 
  

320.0 
  

130.0 
  



New Deal for Schools 
  

27.6 
  

27.6 
  

27.6 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Pre-School Education Grant 
  

111.0 
  

134.5 
  

141.0 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Rural Transport Fund 
  

5.0 
  

5.5 
  

5.5 
  

6.0 
  

6.0 
  



Rough Sleepers Initiative 
  

5.9 
  

14.2 
  

11.9 
  

3.7 
  

3.7 
  



Reducing Use of B&B Accommodation 
  

- 
  

5.3 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Raising Standards in Schools 
  

- 
  

31.6 
  

29.7 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Homelessness Taskforce 
  

- 
  

- 
  

3.0 
  

15.0 
  

20.0 
  



Glasgow Hostels 
  

- 
  

0.7 
  

3.0 
  

4.0 
  

5.0 
  



Modernising Government Fund 
  

- 
  

12.0 
  

14.0 
  

15.0 
  

15.0 
  



Community Safety 
  

- 
  

1.1 
  

1.4 
  

4.0 
  

4.0 
  



Investment in Roads and Bridges 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

20.0 
  

- 
  



Integrated Transport Fund 
  

- 
  

- 
  

5.0 
  

10.0 
  

55.0 
  



Floodline 
  

- 
  

- 
  

0.9 
  

0.6 
  

0.6 
  



Strategic Waste Fund 
  

- 
  

- 
  

4.2 
  

16 
  

30.2 
  



Disposal of Fridges 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

1.7 
  

TBC 
  



Water and Sewerage Reduction Scheme 
  

- 
  

- 
  

1.2 
  

8.0 
  

TBC 
  



Delayed Discharge 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

20.0 
  



Joint Health Improvement Strategies 
  

- 
  

- 
  

0.5 
  

0.5 
  

0.5 
  



Pre-School Workforce Development 
  

- 
  

- 
  

3.6 
  

3.6 
  

3.6 
  



School Buildings Improvement Fund 
  

- 
  

- 
  

12.0 
  

26.7 
  

TBC 
  



Changing Children's Services Fund 
  

- 
  

- 
  

4.0 
  

33.0 
  

44.5 
  



Schools PPP 
  

Support for at least £1.1bn of capital investment 
  in schools 
  



  Note:

  These resources support local authority investment in infrastructure and service expenditure, including allowance for pay and inflation and other cost pressures, as well as support for specific policy initiatives. Where programme grants are also available to other agencies or partnerships including local government, e.g. Modernising Government Fund, the total available allocation has been shown.

Local Government

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the Accounts Commission’s report , Fife Council: The Third Age Group Findings , what steps are being taken to hold a national review of the involvement of local authorities with arm’s length bodies; what the scope of any such review will be, and when it will report.

Peter Peacock: The Accounts Commission announced in April that Audit Scotland will conduct a national review of councils’ involvement with arms-length organisations. As an independent body it will be for them to decide the details of the review.

Local Government Finance

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has reached any agreement with regard to a loan to Scottish Borders Council and, if so, whether it will detail the amount of the loan and any conditions attached to it.

Peter Peacock: No request for a loan has been received from Scottish Borders Council, and no loan has been agreed.

Local Government in Scotland Bill

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the power to advance well-being under Part 4 of the Local Government in Scotland Bill will allow local authorities to encourage general building maintenance and improve litter control and what specific powers will be conferred on local authorities to assist in this.

Mr Andy Kerr: The power to advance well-being will enable a local authority to do anything it considers is likely to promote or improve the well-being of their area or persons in it, subject to certain safeguards. In respect of general building maintenance or litter control, a local authority may use the power if it considers that the proposed action is likely to promote or improve well-being.

  Local authorities already have powers in respect of building maintenance and litter. In respect of litter, the Scottish Executive has commissioned a review to consider whether the current legislation on litter and flytipping is effective and achieving its purpose, and whether it is being fully utilised by local authorities. The report of the review is due to be completed in late summer.

Prison Service

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what PricewaterhouseCoopers were paid for production of the Financial Review of Scottish Prison Service Estates Review , showing each head of costs.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24578 on 26 April 2002.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24629 by Mr Jim Wallace on 1 May 2002, whether it will provide a table showing where omissions have been made in the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Ltd for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock and in each schedule, showing in each case the paragraph and sub-paragraph numbers or specified section of the text as appropriate and what the reasons were for each omission.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Members of the Justice 1 Committee have now had the opportunity to view the contract in full.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it cost at March 2001 prices to obtain the outline planning approval for the construction of the prison referred to in section 1.1.73 of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock .

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The actual cost is not separately identifiable. The best estimate is approximately £32,000 including planning fees.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25345 by Mr Jim Wallace on 21 June 2002, within what periods of time the outputs required by the contracts for social work services for HM Young Offenders Institution (a) Glenochil and (b) Polmont are to be provided.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The outputs contained in the answer to question S1W-25345 in relation to both Glenochil and Polmont are based on a twelve month period.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25345 by Mr Jim Wallace on 21 June 2002, why it did not provide in the answer details of the periods of time within which the outputs are required and whether this answer complies with Part I of its Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information .

Mr Jim Wallace: I   have asked Tony Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Question S1W-25345 did not request the periods of time within which the outputs were required. The answer to question S1W-25345 assumed that it was annual outputs that were required.

Public Order Act 1986

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many orders have been (a) applied for and (b) granted to local authorities under section 14A of the Public Order Act 1986 in each year since the section came into force.

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions police have used their powers under section 14C(1) of the Public Order Act 1986 in each year since the section came into force.

Mr Jim Wallace: This information is not held centrally. However, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland are aware of no charges having so far been brought under this legislation.

Public Order Act 1986

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports of offences to the procurator fiscal, (b) prosecutions and (c) convictions there have been under section 14B(1) of the Public Order Act 1986 in each year since the section came into force.

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports of offences to the procurator fiscal, (b) prosecutions and (c) convictions there have been under section 14C(3) of the Public Order Act 1986 in each year since the section came into force.

Mrs Elish Angiolini QC: No cases under this section have been reported to Procurators Fiscal since this section came into force.

Rates

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to extend the 50% rates relief scheme available to post offices in rural areas to those in deprived urban areas and which local authorities currently operate an additional 50% relief scheme for post offices in rural areas.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has no plans to extend the scope of the existing rural (village shop) rate relief scheme to post offices in deprived urban areas. Post offices in deprived urban areas may be eligible for rate relief under the small business rate relief scheme announced by Andy Kerr on 11 December 2001.

  The level of discretionary rate relief granted by local authorities under the rural (village shop) scheme is entirely a matter for each local authority. Information on the level of discretionary rate relief granted specifically to post offices by each local authority is not held centrally.

Rates

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to (a) ensure that the rules and applications for 50% rates relief for rural post offices are uniformly applied across Scotland and (b) establish a uniform definition of what constitutes a rural post office for the purposes of the scheme.

Peter Peacock: Responsibility for interpreting the legislative framework within which local authorities are required to operate rests with the individual authority and subsequently, where a ratepayer disagrees with that interpretation, the Courts.

  The Non Domestic Rating (Rural Areas and Rateable Values Limits) (Scotland) Order 1997 designates rural areas for the purposes of the rural (village shop) rate relief scheme. The method used is based on the General Register Office for Scotland post code method of urban/rural classification.

Schools

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what space standards are currently being applied in the designs of new schools; how these have been updated from those used in the 1970s and amended for metrication in the 1980s, and whether it has any plans to publish standards for excellence in space and quality in school buildings.

Nicol Stephen: The School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967, as amended for metrication, set out broad minimum standards in relation to certain aspects of school accommodation, including areas for school sites and overall minimum educational areas.

  They do not prescribe detailed space requirements such as individual classroom areas. These detailed matters are for those commissioning the design of new schools in the light of experience of the delivery of the education service, and may vary according to local requirements.

  We are working with local authorities to develop a national strategy for the school estate. This will provide an appropriate context in which to consider school building standards further.

Schools

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being put in place to undertake post-occupancy evaluations of the new school buildings being procured by local authorities, including qualitative as well as quantitative appraisals.

Nicol Stephen: The procurement of school buildings is a matter within the responsibility of local authorities. It is for individual authorities to decide whether to undertake evaluation of new school buildings following occupancy and how to take account of those findings in considering their future school developments. Carrying out an evaluation offers an opportunity to learn lessons and identify good practice and I am anxious that all authorities should benefit from this. Evaluation and sharing good practice will therefore be issues addressed in the development of the national strategy for the school estate.

Schools

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how its school estate strategy will identify the number of (a) schools and (b) the number of pupils served by schools that have sub-standard heating, ventilation, plumbing and roofs.

Nicol Stephen: We are working with local authorities to develop a national strategy for the school estate. This will be complemented by local authorities’ school estate management plans. The detailed assessment and management of school buildings are matters for the local authorities and we would expect their management plans to take account of such issues.

Schools

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23320 by Nicol Stephen on 19 March 2002, whether energy efficiency targets will be built into future evaluation criteria under the Public/Private Partnership programme for school modernisation.

Nicol Stephen: The assessment criteria for the current round of local authority bids for revenue support for outline school Public/Private Partnership projects were set out in Scottish Executive Education Department circular 8/2001. We have also announced our intention to put in place by the end of the year a school estate strategy for Scotland. That will be the most appropriate context in which to address issues of sustainable development in school buildings, including energy efficiency.

Scottish Executive Finance

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which of its departments and divisions have been identified as having a financial loss of £5,000 or more in any of the last 18 months.

Mr Andy Kerr: The published accounts for 2000-01 show losses by department. Losses of less than £100,000 are shown in aggregate, losses over £100,000 are separately noted. The same information will be published in the 2001-02 accounts. Most losses are outwith the direct control of the Executive, for example, damage to Crown Property as the result of road traffic accidents; the inability to reclaim grants to businesses through bankruptcy, liquidation or similar, and the payment of Public Divided Capital to NHS Trust Hospitals.

Social Work

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken any national workforce planning in relation to the requirements of social work services across Scotland.

Cathy Jamieson: Workforce planning has been the responsibility of the employer led UK Training Organisation for the Social Services. Following the establishment of the Scottish Social Services Council the Executive is working with that organisation, employers and other relevant bodies to establish a more effective approach.

Special Advisers

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what process was followed to appoint the First Minister’s principal special adviser.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what process was followed to appoint the First Minister’s six special advisers.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it cost to advertise and appoint each of the First Minister’s current seven special and principal special advisers.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of each of the First Minister’s special advisers.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the salary is of the First Minister’s principal special adviser and each of the special advisers.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the pension rights and duration of contract are of the First Minister’s principal special adviser and each of the special advisers.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister’s special advisers are classed as civil servants.

Mr Andy Kerr: Provision for the appointment of special advisers is made in article 3 (4) of the Civil Service Order in Council 1995 as amended by the Civil Service (Amendment) Order in Council 1999. These provisions give the First Minister delegated authority from the Prime Minister to appoint up to 12 special advisers without further recourse to him. Nine special advisers are currently in post. They were selected by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister respectively, without advertisement.

  Special advisers are temporary civil servants. They are appointed to advise ministers within the terms of the Model Contract for Special Advisers, which includes a special adviser code of conduct. The Model Contract, which sets out the sorts of work a special adviser may do as well as arrangements for pension and explanation of duration of contract, is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 22440). Special adviser’s salaries are not revealed in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned. However, the special advisers’ salary ranges for 2002-03 are shown in the following table:

  


Pay Bands 
  

Range From 1 April 2002 
  



1 
  

£34,850 to £45,100 
  



2 
  

£45,101 to £57,400 
  



3 
  

£57,401 to £73,800 
  



3 (premium) 
  

£73,801 to £89,175 
  



4 
  

£76,876 to £92,250 
  



  There are currently two special advisers in Pay Band 1, five in Pay Band 2 and two in Pay Band 3.

Teacher Training

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its projection was on 1 December 2001 for the number of teacher training places to be made available for the year from August 2002, broken down by university and course.

Nicol Stephen: In December 2001 the Scottish Executive's projections for total student teacher output at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in session 2002-03 was 1,085 primary graduates and 1,152 secondary graduates; to be made up from holders of four year Bachelor of Education (BEd) degrees and one year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

  The Executive issued guidance to Scottish Higher Education Funding Council in February 2002 on initial teacher education that to meet this student output, intakes to PGCE courses should be 581 in primary and 1,000 in secondary. Subsequently, information became available from local authorities and others that caused this estimate to be reduced to 404 in primary and 805 in secondary. This revision was designed to meet the demand for teachers, without producing an excess of supply which would neither be in the interests of the individual students, nor the teaching profession as a whole.

Teacher Training

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its projection was on 1 March 2002 for the number of teacher training places to be made available for the year from August 2002, broken down by university and course.

Nicol Stephen: Advice offered to Scottish Higher Education Funding Council in March was that PGCE intake levels should be set at 404 in primary and 805 in secondary, and that this number would enable expected demand to be met, without producing an excess of supply which would be neither be in the interests of the individual students, nor the teaching profession as a whole.

Teacher Training

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what reductions have been made since 1 December 2001 to the number of teacher training places to be made available from August 2002, broken down by university and course, and what the reason is for any such changes.

Nicol Stephen: In March revised guidance was issued to Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) on PGCE intakes following:

  local authorities reporting not finding suitable training posts for the new teacher induction scheme they had expected (and upon which teacher training numbers had been based).

  the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) advising a large number of provisionally registered teachers experience difficulty in amassing the necessary number of days to apply for full registration.

  early indications showing that fewer teachers are taking up offers of early retirement.

  indications of higher conversion rates between those qualifying to those joining the profession as probationers.

  Following receipt of the revised guidance SHEFC allocated the intake targets to institutions for courses of initial teacher education in 2002, as shown in the following table:

  SHEFC Intakes Allocated to Initial Teacher Education 2002-03

  


Institution 
  

PGCE Primary 
  

PGCE Secondary 
  

BEd Primary 
  

BEd PE 
  

BEd Technology 
  

BEd Music 
  

Combined Degree 
  

Total 
  



Aberdeen 
  

44 
  

140 
  

102 
  

- 
  

- 
  

25 
  

15 
  

326 
  



Dundee 
  

48 
  

- 
  

68 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

116 
  



Edinburgh 
  

76 
  

144 
  

139 
  

100 
  

11 
  

- 
  

- 
  

470 
  



Glasgow 
  

82 
  

137 
  

141 
  

- 
  

25 
  

29 
  

32 
  

446 
  



Paisley 
  

35 
  

47 
  

81 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

163 
  



Stirling 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

115 
  

115 
  



Strathclyde 
  

119 
  

337 
  

169 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

30 
  

655 
  



Total 
  

404 
  

805 
  

700 
  

100 
  

36 
  

54 
  

192 
  

2,291

Teacher Training

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its projections are for teacher training places in universities for (a) primary teachers and (b) secondary teachers in (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04, (iii) 2004-05, (iv) 2005-06, (v) 2006-07 and (vi) 2007-08.

Nicol Stephen: The following table shows the Scottish Executive's projections student output required from (a) primary and (b) secondary courses of initial teacher education to meet the deficit at the start of the following session:

  Student output required to meet projected teacher deficit at the start of the following session

  





2002-03* 
  

2003-04** 
  

2004-05** 
  

2005-06** 
  

2006-07** 
  

2007-08** 
  



Primary 
  

907 
  

1,033 
  

1,080 
  

1,103 
  

1,208 
  

1,272 
  



Secondary 
  

957 
  

1,136 
  

1,158 
  

1,178 
  

1,043 
  

1,042 
  



Total 
  

1,864 
  

2,169 
  

2,238 
  

2,281 
  

2,251 
  

2,314 
  



  Notes:

  * Reflects revision to previous estimates.

  ** The 2003-04 teacher workforce planning exercise will take place in the autumn of this year. As part of this exercise, the Teacher Supply and Recruitment Strategy Group, which brings together representatives from the higher education institutions, the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland, the General Teaching Council for Scotland and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, will for the first time have available to it hard information on the number of probationer posts available in local authorities. This may to have an impact on demand for future years.

Young Offenders

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has conducted into re-offending rates in respect of different types of social work provision for young offenders.

Mr Jim Wallace: No specific research has been carried out in Scotland into re-offending rates in respect of different types of social work provision for young offenders. The Scottish Executive has commissioned a number of evaluations of the effectiveness of certain disposals and programmes for young offenders where reconviction has been examined as an indication of their effectiveness in reducing offending. These studies suggest that the frequency and seriousness of the offending of young people completing programmes based on evidence of ‘what works’ may be reduced in comparison with those who do not complete and comparison groups however effectiveness is critically affected by the young people’s lifestyles. Small sample sizes and the limited time period for follow up mean these findings are inconclusive. A primary aim of the Scottish Executive’s Youth Crime Strategy and the Ministerial Action Plan on youth crime is to reduce offending by young people and research to support their implementation will examine the impact of social work and other provision on offending.